November 1, 2007

Jornada 8: Elche vs. Malaga

Sunday 14 October 2007 and yet another live televised match for Malaga. The game gets top billing in the absence of La Liga teams because it is an international weekend.

In the Martínez Valero Stadium in Elche, 6,829 spectators showed up to see if the home team could stop Malaga's record-breaking unbeaten run of seven games since the start of the season. During the week, the newspapers had been full of the fact that Malaga's strength this season - the solid back four and in particular, the centre backs, Weligton and Rosario, were to be given their stiffest test yet against two strikers who are the tallest in Spain, with the giant Miguel a mere 6'8" and the Englishman, Noel Williams. Nevertheless, Malaga manager Muniz stuck with the formation that had done so well for him, which meant fit again Salva had to be content with a seat on the sub's bench.

The game started briskly, with goalkeepers having to be alert in the opening minutes, although it was Elche who began to take the initiative, so that Malaga was pushed back with all eleven players in their own half. Indeed the two powerful front men were proving difficult for Malaga's centre backs and as a result, the midfield was again missed out with Malaga reduced to trying to clear their lines and find the front men with high long balls. Elche could have gone ahead in 14 minutes. Pere Martí hurled a throw-in to the near post and Williams back-headed across the goal and just wide of the far post with Goitia watching hopelessly.
With Elche pushing up, the strong running of their forwards and the ineptitude of Malaga's midfield to make any impression on the game, it was no surprise when Elche took the lead in 34 minutes. Víctor Gómis put it a swilrling cross from the right wing and the giant Miguel got in front of Carpentero and chested the ball down to the unmarked FAJARDO running into the box and the Uruguayan shot low past Goitia.

Elche 1 Malaga 0

If Muniz was analysing how his team could back into the game he made the wrong decision at half time. He withdrew the hopeless and completely ineffective Paulo Jorge and brought on another striker, Salva, with the side changing to a 4-3-3 formation. However, the problem lay in the fact that Hidalgo and co in the midfield had been posted missing, so that a third striker just meant that the hopeful clearances from defence had one more opportunity to find somebody. I suppose the strikers have been on form and have been scoring goals from less than half chances, but this was a very poor tactical decision. And before Malaga could even adjust to their new formation, they went behind further. Calleja lost possession at the half way line and the ball was picked up by Noel Williams, who then hared down the vacant right wing. Looking up, he saw his strike partner Miguel loping through the centre of the park and sent in a curving cross to him. The long legged MIGUEL stuck out his leg beyond Weligton to prod the ball home past Goitia.

Elche 2 Malaga 0

The home crowd went into some sort of delirium as they were in total control of the game against a clueless Malaga side and were fulfilling the promise made by the Elche manager David Vidal that they would be the first team to beat the league leaders. His tactics were spot on and Muniz had no answer.

April 23, 2007

Jornada 34: Malaga vs Elche

Game 34 of 42: nine games remain for Malaga’s future to be determined. Today’s visitors, Elche, are yet another team also trying to escape relegation, but a look at the table will show that, although the promotion spots have all but been decided, there are as many as sixteen teams capable of joining Vecindario in the drop to Segunda B division.
After the success of the team in the past few weeks, since the wake-up 4-1 drubbing by Poli Ejido, Muniz has stuck more or less to a 4-4-2 formation, with more or less the same players. This has resulted in wins against Xerez and Lorca at home, a narrow defeat away to league champions-elect, Valladolid, and last week’s draw at Ponferradina.
For this week’s match, however, he is forced to make some changes as forward Ivan Rosado is injured and out of contention. The Spanish press were speculating who would take his place up front alongside Counago: would it be Chengue Morales, Jonaton Valle or Popo? They were all wrong as Muniz picked Perico!!

In front of a record crowd of 23,130 spectators, Hidalgo was spotted wearing a new pair of gold boots – perhaps in recognition of the fact that he is now the club’s top goal scorer (notwithstanding the away on loan Salva). Another unusual thing was that Malaga won the toss and elected to defend the Fondo end!
The first goalmouth incident came after 4’ when Perico was fouled some 25 yards out. Calleja took the free kick short with a square pass to Valcarce, who sent in a powerful shot, which was blocked by an unbeknowing defender. From the resultant corner, Silva heads over.
In 6’ Elche, who have been pinned back in their own defence, make a break on the counter-attack and Goitia has to make an intervention to catch winger Alfredo’ cross.
In 7’ Hidalgo bursts through into the opposition’s penalty box. He appears to bring the ball under control with his hand as he goes one on one with goalkeeper Willy. He is booked for handball.
The next minute, Counago, who is sporting an unbecoming Mohican hairstyle, collects the ball in midfield and releases CALLEJA on the left wing, clear on goal. Willy rushes out to the edge of the penalty area and Malaga’s little winger sends a delightful lob over his head and into the net! GOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
Malaga 1 Elche 0
It’s the start Malaga and the huge crowd wanted and there is dancing in the stands, much flag waving and drum banging in celebration.
In 14’ Jesule becomes the second Malaga player booked for a body check-type tackle.
In 19’ Molinero uses his red boots to get in a shot from 30 yards but he sends it straight to keeper Willy in the Elche goal.
The next minute brings an even better chance for the home team, who are looking to finish the game off early. Jesus Gamez forces a corner on the right. Left winger Calleja takes and sends his cross long to the back post where Hidalgo is standing on his own for a free header, which goes wide.
In 22’ Elche left winger Alfredo again causes problems when he beats Jesus Gamez on the wing and manages to squeeze in a shot that Goitia has to get down to block at the post.
In 23’ Silva becomes Malaga’s third booking for tugging an opponent’s shirt in midfield.
In 25’ Perico, who is chasing lost causes and turning nothing into something, forces Elche to concede another corner. This time it is Hidalgo who takes the kick but sends it too long for Calleja at the far post.
In 28’ Counago is tripped in the box after cleverly kicking the ball over a defender’s head. No penalty.
In 32’ there are ironic cheers from the crowd when the referee awards a free kick to Malaga after a foul on Hidalgo. It has seemed that all decisions were going Elche’s way to that point and that their players were escaping bookings for similar offences that had brought Malaga’s total to three inside the first half an hour.
In 36’ Elche make their first substitution, replacing right back Mario for Oscar Diaz. The young right back had been roasted by Calleja down Malaga’s left wing.
In 39’ Elche’s first booking when their diminutive striker Peragon (not of virtue, then) is shown the yellow card for a high tackle on Armando.
In 41’ Perico wins another free kick in a good position. Calleja takes it and finds Hidalgo standing clear. The attacking midfielder sends in a powerful goal bound drive which forces Willy to make a spectacular one handed diving save to deny Hidalgo a certain goal.
Half-time Malaga 1 Elche 0
It’s been a quick first half with Malaga slightly on top, but Elche have shown that they can be dangerous on the counter-attack and the 1-0 lead is looking a little slender.
Elche make their second substitution at halftime. Winger Alfredo is replaced by striker Gascon Casas, who along with fellow striker, Peragon, have scored 16 times in the league between them this season.
In 53’ Elche’s counter-attacking causes concern again as Gascon Casas makes his presence felt with a long range effort that has Goitia diving to block the shot low down at his left hand post.
In 54’ Perico, who looks exhausted, is replaced by Serbian U-21 International Stosic, to loud cheers from the home support.
In 56’ some smart interpassing between Jesus Gamez and Molinero down the right wing produces a shot from the winger, but Willy gathers it easily.
In 59’, one of those bizarre moments. Counago is tripped some 30 yards out central to the goal. The penalty box becomes crowded with attackers and defenders, all jostling for position. It’s not inconceivable that Hidalgo might try a shot from the free kick either, so there is an air of anticipation as he lines up to take the kick. But, catching everybody by surprise, Hidalgo elects to pass short and square to his right to……..Mr Nobody!?! He was expecting Jesus Gamez to be there, but the full back was back in his own half covering Gascon Casas’ movements.
In the next little spell, Malaga seem to lose concentration and go to sleep, allowing Elche to get more into the game. This has been symptomatic of Malaga’s season and has cost them several points and games. Is it something they put in their tea at half-time? Perhaps somebody should look into this. Elche look the more confident side – they are closing down all over the pitch and winning every second ball. Elche have several shots during a five minute period that were either blocked by some last ditch defending or were not on target. Malaga were lucky to escape this period without conceding a goal.
In 64’ Gascon Casas again forces a save from Goitia, again with another spectacular long range effort. The Malaga ‘keeper has to stretch full length to stop the ball on the goal-line.
In 66’ I’m starting to get irritated with Counago’s continual falling over and looking for free kicks. How he is still considered a hero at Ipswich Town is beyond me. Somebody call a taxi for Portman Road, quickly, please!
In 67’ Muniz must be reading my thoughts as he brings on giant Uruguayan Chengue Morales for Counago. Elche’s Oscar Diaz is booked for a dangerous tackle on Jesus Gamez.
In 69’ Jesule becomes Malaga’s fourth booking for what looked an innocuous challenge.
Malaga continue to play without shape or organisation and are desperately hanging on to their slender lead as Elche continue to dominate the second half.
In 70’ Stosic, who has looked lively since coming on, bursts into the penalty area. With skilful feet, he beats the first defender and is about to go round a second when he is scythed down. It’s the best and clearest penalty claim that Malaga have had all season. No penalty given, “Play on”, says the ref.
In 72’ Goitia performs another miracle to keep Malaga in the game as Peragon races into the box and shoots whilst Malaga stop playing shouting at the referee for freekick decisions that this referee was never going to give to Malaga today.
In 73’ it’s Malaga who are forced to counter-attack. The sprightly Stosic picks up a pass from Chengue in the centre circle. With nobody in support the young Serb runs the entire half of the park chased by two defenders. He runs into the box where the two defenders try to sandwich him off the ball. Somehow Stosic squirms out from between them to get a shot on target, but it has no power and Willy collects easily.
It’s the wake-up call that Malaga needed though and three minutes later Calleja has a fine run down the left wing. Stosic is there to support him and gets to the by-line to send in an excellent cross. He’s big, he’s at least 8’3” and he was waiting in position at the far post. Stosic’s cross was right on the button and CHENGUE made no mistake with his header from six yards, giving Willy no chance.
Malaga 2 Elche 0
Whew! The breathing space that Malaga needed.
In 77’ Armando becomes Malaga’s fifth booking for a dangerous tackle on the half-way line.
In 78’ Elche make their final substitution, taking off defender Bernaus for midfielder Katkorran.
In 79’ Goitia has to make another diving save to stop another spectacular long range effort from Gascon Casas.
His strike partner, Peragon, has a free header from a cross from the left in 80’ which luckily for Malaga goes wide.
Peragon has another free header in 83’, this time from a cross from the right. Again the striker sees his effort go wide.
Then Peragon has his best opportunity of the game. Goitia has already gone to ground and the goal is wide-open. The Elche striker inexplicably shoots wide.
Malaga are very fortunate to survive this latest barrage and only poor finishing is keeping Elche out of this game. The huge crowd though seems oblivious to Malaga’s shortcomings on the field and are celebrating with some impressive Mexican Waves around the ground.
Then in 86’ Malaga have another chance to go further ahead. Stosic (who has been Malaga’s most impressive player going forward since he came on as a sub) is fouled near the right corner flag. There are shouts of “Chengue, Chengue” around the ground as the big Uruguayan takes up his position at the far post. Stosic takes the kick but the Elche defence clear the ball to safety.
The next minute Chengue does get his head to a Hidalgo free kick but his effort goes just wide.
In 89’ Molinero and Stosic combine with neat 1-2’s resulting in Willy having to kick the ball into Row Z to desperately clear from his goal-line.
In 90’ Chengue becomes the sixth Malaga player to be booked, when he kicks the ball away after a dubious offside decision.
In 91’ Molinero is substituted for Manu.
In 93’ Goitia makes another fine save from a dramatic overhead kick from Peragon.
Full-time Malaga 2 Elche 0

An excellent result for Malaga, despite living a bit too dangerously for long periods of the game. However, the win keeps their hopes of evading the dreaded drop alive and actually sees them climb to a respectable 14th position in the table. But with eight games to go and every other team also fighting hard, it’s still too early to say that Malaga are going to be safe. Next week they face the difficult journey up to the historic city of Salamanca and then a crunch game the following week away to Real Madrid Castilla, which may go a long way to determining Malaga’s future. Sky viewers will be able to watch this game live on Real Madrid TV – I know I will.
The next home game is in three weeks’ time against bottom club and already relegated, Vecindario. Malaga were lucky to get a draw in Gran Canaria when they met earlier in the season. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

November 20, 2006

Jornada 13: Elche vs Malaga

On Sunday 19 November 2006, Malaga travelled to play second bottom club, Elche. Surely a chance for the blue and whites to get a first win for the new manager, Muniz (pronounced Moo-ny-eeth) whose tenure of two and half weeks has produced no wins, one draw and two defeats so far.
After last week's debacle against Ponferradina, Muniz had stated in the press that he was going to ring the changes and out went Cesar Navas and Perico from the squad. However, there was still no opportunity for the two Serbs, Rostic and Stosic, who are still to make their first team debuts in the league since signing in the summer.
In a strange (for Muniz) 4-4-2 line-up, Edgar is preferred to Chengue Morales as a striker up front with Salva and Schurrer retains his place in defence forming a new partnership with Silva.

According to the local newspaper, Sur, Malaga dominated the game from start to finish and in the first half in particular, the new defensive set-up looked very confident and assured. However, Malaga, despite their superiority in possession, only mustered two shots to bother Caballero in the Elche goal; the first a terrific volley from Calleja which forced a fine save from the keeper and the second a miss-kick from Salva standing alone in front of the goal.

In the second half, Malaga started again in similar fashion to keep the pressure on the Elche defence. However, in a sad five minutes, Malaga were undone again with two defensive errors; firstly in the 56 minute, when Bellvis took advantage of a mix-up between the defenders to score and then again in 61' when Calderon twice beat Valcarce and sent in a magnificent cross for Miguel to head home.
Malaga immediately substituted Valcarce for Ernesto and then brought on Chengue Morales for Saul. In this reshuffle, Calleja dropped to left back, with Ernesto on the left wing and Edgar dropped back to right wing to allow Chengue to move up front in attack.
The changes must have worked as Malaga pulled one back in 67' when first Silva then Salva pounced on a free kick taken by Calleja.
Silva was then immediately substituted for Sandro, with the little playmaker moving to midfield and OJ Morales moving back into the centre of defence alongside Schurrer.
Despite dominating the rest of the match as Elche defended in depth to protect their lead, Malaga were unable to score again (and indeed were almost caught out on the break, with Arnau having to make a save to stop a certain third goal) and the game finished Elche 2 Malaga 1.
The referee showed 10 yellow cards during the match including Edgar, Calleja and Sandro for Malaga.

A disappointing result (to say the least) as Malaga plunge down the table and are only two points above the relegation zone. It doesn't get any easier for Muniz as next week's home game is against high Salamanca, currently occupying one of the top three promotion slots. Another tough game and another which is a "must win" for Malaga if this season is not to become a worse disaster than last season. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.

Jornada 13: Elche vs Malaga

On Sunday 19 November 2006, Malaga travelled to play second bottom club, Elche. Surely a chance for the blue and whites to get a first win for the new manager, Muniz (pronounced Moo-ny-eeth) whose tenure of two and half weeks has produced no wins, one draw and two defeats so far.
After last week's debacle against Ponferradina, Muniz had stated in the press that he was going to ring the changes and out went Cesar Navas and Perico from the squad. However, there was still no opportunity for the two Serbs, Ristic and Stosic, who are still to make their first team debuts in the league since signing in the summer.
In a strange (for Muniz) 4-4-2 line-up, Edgar is preferred to Chengue Morales as a striker up front with Salva and Schurrer retains his place in defence forming a new partnership with Silva.

According to the local newspaper, Sur, Malaga dominated the game from start to finish and in the first half in particular, the new defensive set-up looked very confident and assured. However, Malaga, despite their superiority in possession, only mustered two shots to bother Caballero in the Elche goal; the first a terrific volley from Calleja which forced a fine save from the keeper and the second a miss-kick from Salva standing alone in front of the goal.

In the second half, Malaga started again in similar fashion to keep the pressure on the Elche defence. However, in a sad five minutes, Malaga were undone again with two defensive errors; firstly in the 56 minute, when Bellvis took advantage of a mix-up between the defenders to score and then again in 61' when Calderon twice beat Valcarce and sent in a magnificent cross for Miguel to head home.
Malaga immediately substituted Valcarce for Ernesto and then brought on Chengue Morales for Saul. In this reshuffle, Calleja dropped to left back, with Ernesto on the left wing and Edgar dropped back to right wing to allow Chengue to move up front in attack.
The changes must have worked as Malaga pulled one back in 67' when first Silva then Salva pounced on a free kick taken by Calleja.
Silva was then immediately substituted for Sandro, with the little playmaker moving to midfield and OJ Morales moving back into the centre of defence alongside Schurrer.
Despite dominating the rest of the match as Elche defended in depth to protect their lead, Malaga were unable to score again (and indeed were almost caught out on the break, with Arnau having to make a save to stop a certain third goal) and the game finished Elche 2 Malaga 1.
The referee showed 10 yellow cards during the match including Edgar, Calleja and Sandro for Malaga.

A disappointing result (to say the least) as Malaga plunge down the table and are only two points above the relegation zone. It doesn't get any easier for Muniz as next week's home game is against high Salamanca, currently occupying one of the top three promotion slots. Another tough game and another which is a "must win" for Malaga if this season is not to become a worse disaster than last season. Never fear, Your Malaga CF Correspondent will be there.